Material inserting machine



G. H. DIMOND MATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE Dec. 31, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1956 (a w 'ei-z. Damon Dec. 31, 1957 G. H. DIMOND MATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 14, 1956 INVENTOR. qfgejii Dz'flmna Qge 772 Dec. 31, 1957 G. H. DIMOND MATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 14, 1956 Adm mm m R g 4% a #9 mm, m @i TE F D i NwNN m QR M H WNN C Dec. 31, 1957 G. H. DIMOND MATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 14. 1956- INVVENTORA: Georgejf. Dz'monci' Unite MATERIAL INSERTING MACHHWE George H. Dimond, East Aurora, N. Y., assignor to Consolidated Packaging Machinery Corporation, Butfalo, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 14, 1956, Serial No. 628,448

7 Claims. (Cl, 53-115) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material such as cotton into completely empty or partially filled bottles, and particularly seeks to provide a novel machine of this general type which is adapted to break 011 individual strand lengths from a continuously fed supply strand of fibrous material, to thereafter move the individual strand lengths into alignment with a bottle, then to fold the strand lengths into an inverted U- hape, then insert them into any predetermined position of depth inside the bottles, and thereafter compact them in the botties.

In my co-pending application Ser. No. 474,455, filed December 10, 1952, now U. S. Patent No. 2,805,531, there is disclosed and claimed a machine of this general type in which individual strand lengths of fibrous material are folded into inverted U-shapes and then inserted into successively presented, continuously moved bottles.

A machine constructed in accordance with this invention is an improvement over that disclosed and claimed in the above- 'ientioned application, particularly with respect to the feeding of the individual cotton strand lengths and to the mechanism for maintaining the cotton strands under control as they are moved into alignment with each successively presented bottle, and also to the manner and mechanisms for folding the fibrous strands and compacting a folded strand in each bottle.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a machine for the insertion of fibrous materials into bottles in which individual lengths of cotton are fed into contact with mechanisms which contact and hold a strand length of fibrous material just as each is parted from a continuous strandthereof and move it into alignment with a continuously advanced bottle, and thereafter fold the strand into an inverted U-shape and compact it into each individually advanced bottle.

Another objectis to provide a machine of the character stated in which individual strands of cotton are fed adjacent a cotton guide plate and cotton picker fingers are moved into engagement with each strand length to hold the cotton as it is parted from a continuous strand thereof and to move it along the cotton guide plate into alignment with a successively advanced container and thereafter insert it into the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for feeding individual cotton strand lengths into association with anupstanding movable cotton tucker finger, a reciprocable cotton plunger and a reciprocable carrier sleeve, the plunger and sleeve beieng effective to fold the cotton strand lengths over the tucker finger into an in verted U-shape and thereafter upon repeated reciprocations first to insert the folded cotton strand into a bottle and thereafter compact it therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide readily adjustable, easily interchangeable parts for mechanisms of the character described.

With these and other objects in view, the nature of which will be more apparent, the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawings, the accompanying detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a horizontal section taken along line 1-4 of Fig. 2 of a material-inserting machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, are fragmentary horizontal sections taken along the same general plane as Fig. l, but showing the sequence of operations for feeding and moving individual cotton strand lengths into position for insertion into a container;

Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, are fragmentary elevations partly in section of the cotton carrier and plunger mechanism showing the sequence of operations for folding individual cotton strands and inserting them into individual containers;

Fig. 12 is a development of the cams for controlling the motion of the cotton carrier and plunger;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 1313 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section taken on line 1414 of Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention as illustrated is embodied in a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous strand into either partially filled or completely empty bottles and includes a base A, a fibrous material strand-separating and feeding mechanism generally indicated at B, a turret assembly generally indicated at C for performing material folding and inserting operations, an intake and discharge conveyor generally indicated at D, and a continuous supply of unbroken stranded fibrous material generally indicated at E and which is usually fed from a container (not shown).

The base A, only a portion of which is shown, carries all of the driving mechanism of the machine (not shown), including a motor which operates the turret C, the strand separating and feeding mechanism B, the intake and discharge conveyor D, a container spacing and separating star wheel 10, a pair of upper and lower intake star wheels 12 and 14, and a friction faced discharge Wheel 16, all synchronized to effect the successive movement and pres-- entation of bottles 18 and the insertion of an individual strand of fibrous material such as cotton into each successively presented bottle. The driving mechanisms are generally similar to those disclosed in Patent No. 2,691,473, issued. October 12, 1954, to H. E. Gantzer.

The intake upper and lower star wheels 12 and 14 (see Figs. 1, 13 and 14) are mating hubbed discs each having a shaft clearance slot 20 thereon which extends from the outer periphery thereof to a location beyond the center to permit the lateral insertion of the star wheels onto a vertical shaft 22, the latter being connected to driving mechanisms (not shown) in the base A for constant rotation. The lower star wheel 14 has a lower hubbed portion 24 which fits around and is centered upon a pilot collar 26 keyed to the shaft 22. The bottom edge of the hubbed portion 24 is in contact with a base cap 28 and normally rests thereon during rotation with the shaft 22.

The lower star wheel 14 is also provided with an upper hubbed portion 39 which is engaged by a similar hubbed portion 32 of the upper star wheel 12. The star wheels are aligned and locked tog-ether by suitable pin connections (not shown) located at the juncture of their hubbed portions. Each of the star wheels 12 and 14 is provided with four bottle-receiving pockets which are effective during operation to move the bottle 18 in each pocket through an arcuate path from the intake position of the conveyor D into operative association with the mechanism of the Patented Dec. 31, 1957 turret C. The bottles are guided along arcuate paths during intake and discharge from the turret C by an .adjustably positioned curved guide 34.

The star wheels 12 and 14 are retained in position over the pilot collar 26 by means of a collar .36keyed to the shaft 22. The star wheels 12 and. 14.may beremoved from the shaft 22 by loosening and raising the collar. 36 and lifting the star wheels slightly to clear (the pilot collar 26 and sliding them off the shaft. 22 along the slots 20. Means are provided on the collar 36 to adjusttthe angular position .of the star wheels with respect to the shaft 22 for timing purposes, and such means include a pair of parallel arms 38 and 40 which are part of and extend outwardly from the collar in the same direction but from diametrically opposite positions thereon. Each of the arms 38 and 40 is provided with an adjustable screw 42 which is directed against the upper part ofa driving .pin 44 located between them, and havinga lower partwhich is inserted into a hole in the upper star .wheel;. 12 to provide a driving connection from the shaft.22 to, the star wheels 12 and 14.

While containers are being moved, into. operative.association withthe turret C the continuous .strandof cotton E is withdrawn from its container (not shown) .by.the feeding mechanisms B which are carriedbyand driven from the shaft 22. The feeding. mechanismsi B. include an elevating bracket 4-6 (see Fig. 13) which isbolted to the top of the shaft 22 and extends ,outwardly therefrom and carries on .two laterally.projecting,,.vertieally aligned, spaced, parallel arms 48 and 50 an elevating screw 52 which extends downwardly :thronghqholes in the arms 48 and 50 and adjustably supports the feeding mechanisms at a prescribed elevation. TheeIevating screw 52 is threaded into a feeder hub 54.;slidablymounted on the shaft 22, the vertical elevationof whichis set by the amount at whichthe elevatingscrew isscrewed thereinto. The elevating screw 52 is restrained from vertical movement by a locking collar 56 .which.is secured to the screw 52 between the upperandlower arms 48 and 50. The feeder hub54 is keyed to=ftheishaft 22 for rotation therewith and is provideduwith a driving gear 58 which fits around the hub. and has aflangc 60 on the inside of its hub whichrests on a recessed. ledgeonthe outer periphery of the hub 54. A clamping and securing plate 62 covers adjacent portions of the hub 54 and the gear 58 and is bolted to the feeder hub' 54 to hold the gearin position on the hub. .The hub. 54.and the gear 58 are connected by suitable means (not shown) to rotate as a unit with the shaft .22. .The outside bottom portion of, the hub of the, gear ,58 carriesithe inner race of a ball bearing, 64 affixedzthereto. The .outer race of the ball bearing 64is afiixedto a. stationary floating bracket 66. The floating bracket 66,.is. anchored against rotation with respect to the shaft-.22 by a torque ,arm 68, one end of which is bolted, topthe underside of the floating braeket'66 and the oppositeend ofwhich is provided with ,an open slot 70 which engages a torque post 72. The torque post 72 .is fixed in .position at the end of an adjustable arm 74 mounted on the base A. The floating bracket 66 carries a shaft.176.,which is constantly rotated by the gear 58 through the medium of a gear 78 afiixed thereto. The remaining portions of the feeding mechanism are not described herein in detail and are similar to that shown andydescribed in application Ser. No. 474,455, filed December 10, 1954.

, The feeding mechanism B is effective to part the continuous strand of cotton into individual cotton strand lengths and feed each strand length radially toward the turret C in timed sequence between a pair of forward feed rolls-80 and;82. The timing is such that a strand ofcottonis projected radially toward the turretC as mechanism in the turret becomes effective to engage each strand-,lengthand move it in a prescribed path in thedi- IClin0f turretrotation just as it is being parted by thc fecd rolls 80.,and ,82acting in conjunction with a similar set spaced slightly to the rear of the rolls and 82 in respect to the direction of cotton feed. The rear rolls (not shown) are stopped periodically while the forward rolls 30 and 82 continue to rotate and effect parting of individual strand lengths from the continuous strand.

The turret assembly C includes a vertically extending main turret spindle 84 which isrigidly carried by the base A. A wheel generally indicated at 86 having a flat disc portion Miami .21 long hubbed portion 90 extending upwardly from the disc portion is mounted on the spindle S4 for rotation thereabout at a fixed position along its height. The top surface of .the disc portion 38 of the wheel 86 provides a peripheral ledge for the support and movement of the bottles 18 into which cotton strands are to be inserted. A lower annular segmented plate type star wheel 92 having four peripheral pockets is removably affixed to the disc portion 88 of the wheel 86. The star wheel pockets are shaped to conform to the body configuration of containers orbottles upon which the work functions are to be performed. A similar star wheel 94 having four pockets in registry with the pockets of the star wheel 92 is removably afiixed to. a mounting disc 96 which is in turn slidably. mounted on the hubbed portion 90 and is prevented from rotarymovement with respect thereto by suitable slideway and key connections and held in any desired vertical. position .with respect thereto by a suitable set screw.

A lower spindle plate 98 is provided with a depending sleeve 99 slidably carried by the upper end of the hubbed portion 90 of the wheel 86 and is prevented from angular movement withrespect thereto by suitable slideway and key connections. A cylindrical casing 100 is supported on the outer edge of the spindle plate 98 and extends upwardly therefrom. A cover 102 is affixed to the top of the casing 100 and an upperspindle plate 104 is also supported from the casing at a location intermediate the height thereof for rotation about the spindle 84. Thus the wheel 86, the star wheels 92 and 94, the lower. and the upper spindle plates 98 and 104, the.cylindrical casing 100 and the cover 102 all rotate as a unit about the spindle 84.

A guiding plate 106 is atfixed to the floating bracket 66 and has an arcuate portion with its center of curvature at the center of the spindle 84 and a short straight portion extending from the arcuate portion to a.position adjacent the exit of the forward cotton feeding rolls 80 and 82. Mechanisms are carried by the turret C for engaging a cotton strand length as it is projected radially toward the center of the turret by. the rolls 80 and 82, and for thereafter directing it against the inner face of the guiding plate 106 and holding it tightly thereagainst ,while moving. it in an arcuate path therealong preparatory to folding the cotton into an inverted U-shape. Thereafter. mechanisms are effective in the turret C to fold the cotton intoaninverted U-shape, to insert it into a bottle 18 and thereafter compact it therein. To this end the turret assembly C is provided with four sets of mechanisms (corresponding to the number of pockets on the. star wheels 92 and 94), all of which are identical in structure. According- 1y, for convenience herein a detailed description will be made of only one of these assemblies,.and it will be appreciated that the remainder are alike.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a pair of cotton picker fingers 108 and 110. which extend radially outwardly from the center of the turret C and are affixed to a collar bracket 112 which is in turn affixed to the lower part of the hubbed spindle plate 98 for. rotation therewith about the spindle 84. The cotton picker fingers 108 and 110 are arranged to move intojcontact with the forward edge of a cotton strandlength .as. it is projected by the feed rollers 80 and 82 and move. it into contact with and hold it tightly against; the .inner vertical face of the cotton guide.,106 and thereafter advance it in the direction of turret rotation and bottle feed therealong.

A vertically reciprocable plunger spindle sleeve 114, having a plunger shank 116 affixed to the lower end thereof, is journalled in suitable bearings in the spindle plates 98 and 164 of the turret C. A long rod 118 extends downwardly into the plunger sleeve 114 to form a guiding core for a compression spring 120, positioned about the rod 118 and compressed between the top cover 102 and the inside bottom of the sleeve 114. The rod 118 is long enough to always extend substantially into the sleeve during all phases of the latters reciprocation. The spring 120 aids gravity in urging the plunger sleeve 114 downwardly during its reciprocation. A vertically reciprocable carrier spindle sleeve 122 journalled in suitable bearings in spindle plates 98 and 1% has an offset arm 124 secured at one end to the bottom thereof and extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom to the plunger shank 116. The offset arm 124 carries at its opposite end a depend ing cylindrical cotton carrier 126 arranged with its axis in alignment with that of the plunger shank 116 which is adapted to reciprocate in and through the lower end of the cotton carrier 126.

A long rod 128 similar to and having the same function as the rod 118, extends downwardly into the carrier sleeve 122 to form a guiding core for a compression spring 130- positioned about the rod 128 and compressed between the top cover 102 and the bottom of the carrier sleeve 122. The central portion of the plunger spindle sleeve 114 is provided with a casting 132 slidably carried thereon and releasably secured as through the use of a clamping bolt 134. The inner face of the casting 132 is provided with a roller cam follower 136.

A flanged base hub 138 is adjustably secured to the spindle 84 and carries a pair of concentrically arranged outer and inner cylindrical cams which comprise an outer carrier cam 140 and an inner plunger cam 142, each provided with an internally extending flange portion which are together clamped onto the flanged base of the hub 138 as through clamp ring and bolt connections indicated at 144. The roller cam follower 136 is adapted to engage the plunger cam 142 as it is rotated around the latter to effect the reciprocation of the plunger shank 116.

The carrier cam 141) is adapted to cause the reciprocation of the cotton carrier 126 through the medium of a' roller follower 146 which rides thereon and which is affixed to a casting 14S slidably carried by the carrier spindle sleeve 122 and releasably secured as through the use of a clamping bolt 158. A spindle plate spacing rod 151 is fastened to the cover 102, the lower spindle plate 98 and the upper spindle plate 104 between each set of spindle and plunger sleeves and provides a bearing and guiding surface for the castings 132 and 148.

Mounted for oscillation in the collar bracket 112 and in the lower spindle plate 98 is a tucker crank shaft 152 which is provided at its lower end with a tucker crank arm 154 affixed at its one end to the shaft 152 and having a U-shaped bracket generally indicated at 156 afiixed to its opposite end. The U-shaped bracket 156 has an upstanding, substantially vertical tucker finger 157 thereon which is adapted to effect folding of the cotton strands in conjunction with the cotton carrier 126. An arm 158 is afiixed at one end to the upper end of the tucker crank shaft 152 and is provided with a roller follower 160 at its opposite end which is adapted to ride in the cam groove formed in the under face of a plate cam 162 secured to the bottom of the cylinder cam 1411. The roller follower 160 under the influence of the plate cam 162 is adapted to move the finger 157 of the U-shaped bracket 156 into and out of vertical alignment with the cotton carrier 126.

The elevation of the mounting disc 96 and the collar bracket 112 and the lower spindle plate 98, the casing 100, the cover 102 and the upper spindle plate 104 in respect to the wheel 86 may be changed by means of a suitable elevating mechanism including a horizontally disposed rotatable shaft 164 arranged in suitable bearings 6 for rotation and afiixed to the bottom of the spindle plate 98. The shaft 164 is provided with a miter gear 166 which meshes with a similar gear 168 aflixed to an upstanding shaft 170 held in suitable bearings attached to the spindle plate 98 and having a worm 172 at the opposite end which engages a rack 174 afiixed to the hubbed portion of the Wheel 86. A crank handle may be afiixed to the protruding end of the shaft 164 whenever a change in elevation is to be made.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

A line of bottles 18 into which individual pieces of cotton Wadding are to be inserted is supplied to the intake of the conveyor D. The leading bottle of the line is urged against the curved periphery of the separating star wheel 10 and then each bottle after being separated is directed against a curved pocket of the pair of star wheels 12 and 14 which move each in sequence into operative association with the mechanisms of the turret C. As a bottle is being moved under the influence of the star wheel 12 the rear pair of feed rolls (not shown) and the front pair of feed rolls 80 and 82 are constantly driven to withdraw a strand of the cotton E from its container. Each strand of cotton is fed at approximately the same lineal speed as the turret C at the pitch diameter of rotation of the plunger sleeve 114 and carrier sleeve 122.

As the bottle-containing pockets of the star wheels 12 and 14 approach registry with the star wheels 92 and 94 the forward feed rolls it and 82 continue forward feed movement while the rear rolls stop under the influence of mechanism described in full in the aforementioned application Ser. No. 474,455 of applicant, to thereby part by tension an individual strand length of cotton wadding. slightly beyond the forward feed rolls in a radial direction toward the center of the turret C at which point the leading cotton picker finger engages the cotton nearest its forward edge and bends it in the direction of turret rotation and thereafter holds it against the inside vertical face of the arcuate cotton guide 106 as the trailing end of the strand length becomes disengaged from the forward feed rolls 80 and 82. Thereupon the other picker finger 108 is moved by the rotation of the turret C into contact with the cotton strand and together with the picker finger 110 moves the strand in the direction of turret rotation towards the end of the arcuate guide 106. In the meantime theupstanding tucker finger 157 on the U-shaped bracket 156 under the influence of the double faced cam 162 (see Fig. 12) has been moved into alignment with the cotton strand and the plunger shank 116 which under the influence of the cam 142 is moved downwardly and contacts the cotton and clamps it onto the top of the tucker finger 157. As a bottle 18 is advanced to the turret mechanisms the cotton carrier 126 under the influence of the roller follower 146 riding on the cam 140, moves downwardly beyond the bottom edge of the plunger shank 116 and effects folding of the cotton strand over the tucker finger 157 into an inverted U-shape. Thereupon both the cotton carrier 126 and the plunger shank 116 are moved upwardly with the folded cotton strand a distance sufficient to clear the tucker finger 157. The tucker finger 157 is then oscillated under the influence of the cam 162 away from the cotton carrier 126. Thereupon both the cotton carrier and the plunger shank 116 are moved downwardly into the bottle 18 with the cotton strand located inside the cotton carrier. At the prescribed position for the location of the cotton inside the bottle 18 the plunger 116 under the influence of its cam 142 becomes effective to move downwardly to push the cotton out of the cotton carrier. Thereafter repeated reciprocations of first the carrier 126, while the plunger shank 116 holds the strand, and then the plunger shank 116, while the carrier 126 holds the strand, in sequence are effective to compact;

the cotton in the container. Thereafter the plunger The strand is fed to a position shank 116, and the carrier 126 are moved upwardly clear ofthe bottle 18 and the cycle is repeated forthe next bottle.

It is, of course, to be, understood that various details of arrangements and proportions of parts may be modified within the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into containers, the combination of means for continuously moving a series of containers, means for supplying a series of individual lengths of fibrous material for insertion into said containers, a guiding plate havinga vertical face located adjacent said fibrous material supplying means, means for directing each fibrous strand in succession against the vertical face of said guiding plate. and thereafter moving it therealong into registry with an associated container, means for folding said individual lengths of fibrous material into an inverted U-shape, and means for effecting the insertion of an individual folded length of fibrous material into each successively presented container.

2. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into containers, the combination of means for continuously moving a series of containers, means for supplying a series of individual lengths of fibrous material for insertion into said containers, a guiding plate having a vertical face located adjacent said fibrous material supplying means, means for directing each fibrous strand length in succession against the vertical face of said guiding plate and thereafter moving it therealong into registry with an associated container, an upstanding tucker finger arranged to move inregistry with each fibrous strand length as it is moved along said guiding plate, means for folding said individual length of fibrous material over said tucker finger into an inverted U-shape, andmeans for efiecting the insertion of the individual folded length of fibrous materialinto each successively presented container.

3. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into containers, the combination of means for continuously moving a series of containers, means for supplying a series of individual lengths of fibrous material for insertion into saidfeontainers, a guiding plate having a vertical face located adjacent said fibrous material supplying rneans, means for directing each fibrous strand in succession. against thevertical face oi said guiding plate and thereafter moving it 'therealong into registrywith an associated container "upstanding tucker finger arranged to, move inr'egistrywith each fibrous strand length as it'is moved along said guiding plate, a vertically rcciprocablesleevernemher arranged to move downwardly over said individual liengths o f'fibrous material when said tucker finger is in registry therewith and effect folding of said material over said tucker finger into an inverted U-sh'ape, means for effectingthe disengagement of said sleeve and its contained cotton from'said tucker fingerfand means for effecting the insertion of the individual folded length of fibrous material into each successively presented container;

4. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into containers, "thdcom'bination of means for continuously moving a ser,i es"ofcontainers, means for supplying a series ,of "iiidi vidual"le n'gths of fibrous material for insertion into said con tainer s'fa guiding plate having a vertical face 'mc'atedjad mm said fibrousfmaterial supplying mearisfiiieansfor directing each fibrous strand succession against'theverticalface of said guiding plateland thereafterfrnoving itthjerealong into registry with aii fassociatcd container, an upstanding tucker finger arranged :to move in: 'registry with each fibrous strand lengtliqas it isr noved along said guiding plate, a verticallyreciprocable"sleevednember arranged to move downwardly over s'a id individuallength of fibrous material when said tucker "'fingenis 'in r'egis'try therewith and effect folding of said material over said tucker finger into an inverted U-shape, a vertically reciprocableplunger arranged to move downwardly through said sleeve member and contact said individual length of fibrous material and hold it in contact with the top ofsaid tucker finger while said sleeve member effects its folding over saidtucker finger, means for efiecting the disengagement of said sleeve member and its contained strand length from said tucker finger, and means for'etfecting the insertion of the individual folded length of'tibroiidmaterial into each successively presented container.

5 In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into containers, the combination of a continuously rotating turret, means for successively presenting a series of containers to said turret in properly timed relation, means for supplying and feeding individual lengths of fibrous material into operative association with said turret, a guiding plate arranged at the discharge of said feeding means and having a vertical face extending in an arcuate path in the direction of turret rotation, a pair of radially extending spaced picker fingers extending outwardly from said turret and being effective during rotation therewith to engage an individual length of fibrous material and move it into registry with an associated container while maintaining it in close contact withi said guiding plate, means for folding said individuallen'gthbf fibrous material into an inverted U-shape, and means for effecting the insertion of the individualfolded length of fibrous material into each successively presented container.

6. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into containers, the combination of a continuously :rotating turret, means for successively presenting'a seris'of containers to said turret in properly timed relationfmeans for supplying and feeding indi vidual lengths of fibrous material into operative association with said turret, a guiding plate arranged at the dischargeof 'said'feeding means and having a vertical face extending in an arcuate path in the direction of turretrota'tion, a pair of radially extending spaced picker fingers "extendingbutwardly from said turret and being effective during rotation therewith to engage an individual length of fibrous material and move it into registry with an associated container while maintaining it in close contact with said guiding plate, an upstanding tucker finger in said turret arranged to move in registry with each fibrous strand length as it is moved along said guiding plate means, means on said turret for folding said 'individual'lengths of fibrous material over said tucker finger into an inverted U-shape, means for effecting the disengagement of said sleeve with its contained and feeding individual lengths of fibrous material into operative association with said turret, a guiding plate having a vertical face arranged at the discharge of said feeding rn'eans' and extending in an arcuate path in the direction of turret rotation, a pair of radially extending spaced picker fingers extending outwardly from said turret and being effective during rotation therewith to engage an individual length of fibrous material and move it into registry with an associated container while maintain ing it in close contact with said guiding plate, an

upstanding tucker finger in said turret arrangedto move in registry with each fibrousstrand length as it is moved along said guiding plate means, a vertically reciprocable sleeve member in said turret arranged to move downwardly over said individual lengths of fibrous material said plunger have moved upwardly to clearsaid tucker finger to move said tucker finger out of registry with said sleeve member and said plunger, the plunger then moving downwardly relative to said sleeve and said container to eject said fibrous material, said plunger and sleeve being elfective to compact said material in said bottle through separate independent reciprocatory motions.

No references cited. 

